Alliance Laundry Systems FLW1511C User Manual

Frontload Washers

Use and Care Guide

FLW1511C

www.comlaundry.com

WARNING

For your safety and to reduce the risk of fire or an explosion, do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and liquids in the vicinity of this or any other appliance.

IMPORTANT: Read the complete INSTALLATION/OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS before using the washer.

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Notes

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Table of

Contents

Important Safety Instructions ........................................................... 5

Use and Care ....................................................................................... 7

Before Washing.................................................................................... 7

Prepare Wash Load.......................................................................... 7

Sort................................................................................................... 7

Pretreat............................................................................................. 8

Load Articles.................................................................................... 8

Load Sizes........................................................................................ 8

Water..................................................................................................... 8

Water Level...................................................................................... 8

Water Hardness................................................................................ 8

Iron................................................................................................... 9

Energy.............................................................................................. 9

Washing Special Items ......................................................................... 10

Common Washer Sounds .................................................................... 10

Washing Concerns................................................................................ 11

Laundry Tips......................................................................................... 12

Special Care.......................................................................................... 13

Starching .......................................................................................... 13

Knits................................................................................................. 13

Permanent Press............................................................................... 13

Stain Removal....................................................................................... 14

Maintenance ........................................................................................ 17

User Maintenance................................................................................. 17

Lubrication....................................................................................... 17

Cold Weather Care........................................................................... 17

Vacations and Extended Non-Use................................................... 17

Care of Your Washer ....................................................................... 17

Reinstallation of Shipping Materials.................................................... 17

Before You Call for Service................................................................. 18

If Service Is Required........................................................................... 19

Information for Handy Reference......................................................... 20

means without the expressed written consent of the publisher.

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Notes

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Important Safety Instructions

To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, serious injury or death to persons when using your washer, follow these basic precautions:

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WARNING

(Save These Instructions)

1. Read all instructions before using the washer.

11. Do not repair or replace any part of the washer, or attempt any servicing unless specifically recommended in the User-Maintenance instructions or in published User-Repair instructions that you understand and have the skills to carry out.

12. To reduce the risk of an electric shock or fire, DO NOT use an extension cord or an adapter to connect the washer to the electrical power source.

2. Refer to the GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS in the INSTALLATION manual for the proper grounding of the washer.

3. Do not wash articles that have been previously cleaned in, washed in, soaked in, or spotted with gasoline, dry-cleaning solvents, or other flammable or explosive substances as they give off vapors that could ignite or explode.

4. Do not add gasoline, dry-cleaning solvents, or other flammable or explosive substances to the wash water. These substances give off vapors that could ignite or explode.

5. Under certain conditions, hydrogen gas may be produced in a hot water system that has not been used for two weeks or more. HYDROGEN GAS IS EXPLOSIVE. If the hot water system has not been used for such a period, before using a washing machine or combination washer-dryer, turn on all hot water faucets and let the water flow from each for several minutes. This will release any accumulated hydrogen gas. The gas is flammable, do not smoke or use an open flame during this time.

6. Do not allow children to play on or in the washer. Close supervision of children is necessary when the washer is used near children. This is a safety rule for all appliances.

7. Before the washer is removed from service or discarded, remove the door to the washing compartment.

8. Do not reach into the washer if the wash drum is moving.

13. Use your washer only for its intended purpose, washing clothes.

14. ALWAYS disconnect the washer from electrical supply before attempting any service. Disconnect the power cord by grasping the plug, not the cord.

15. Install the washer according to the INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. All connections for water, drain, electrical power and grounding must comply with local codes and be made by licensed personnel when required. Do not do it yourself unless you know how!

16. To reduce the risk of fire, clothes which have traces of any flammable substances such as vegetable oil, cooking oil, machine oil, flammable chemicals, thinner, etc. or anything containing wax or chemicals such as in mops and cleaning cloths, must not be put into the washer. These flammable substances may cause the fabric to catch on fire by itself.

17. Do not use fabric softeners or products to eliminate static unless recommended by the manufacturer of the fabric softener or product.

18. Keep your washer in good condition. Bumping or dropping the washer can damage safety features. If this occurs, have your washer checked by a qualified service person.

19. Replace worn power cords and/or loose plugs.

20. Be sure water connections have a shut-off valve and that fill hose connections are tight. CLOSE the shut-off valves at the end of each wash day.

9. Do not install or store the washer where it will be exposed to water and/or weather.

10. Do not tamper with the controls.

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Important Safety Instructions

21. Loading door MUST BE CLOSED any time the washer is to fill, tumble or spin. DO NOT bypass the loading door switch by permitting the washer to operate with the loading door open.

22. Always read and follow manufacturer’s instructions on packages of laundry and cleaning aids. Heed all warnings or precautions. To reduce the risk of poisoning or chemical burns, keep them out of the reach of children at all times (preferably in a locked cabinet).

23. Always follow the fabric care instructions supplied by the garment manufacturer.

24. Never operate the washer with any guards and/or panels removed.

25. DO NOT operate the washer with missing or broken parts.

26. DO NOT bypass any safety devices.

27. Failure to install, maintain, and/or operate this washer according to the manufacturer’s instructions may result in conditions which can produce bodily injury and/or property damage.

NOTE: The WARNING and IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS appearing in this manual are not meant to cover all possible conditions and situations that may occur. Common sense, caution and care must be exercised when installing, maintaining, or operating the washer.

Always contact your dealer, distributor, service agent or the manufacturer about any problems or conditions you do not understand.

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Use and Care

WHITES

LIGHTS

DARKS

NON-COLORFAST

Before Washing

Prepare Wash Load

Empty Pockets and Cuffs

Make sure all pockets are empty and turn them inside out. One bobby pin, metal or plastic toy, nail or sharp object in a load can catch laundry and cause tears. Facial tissue left in a pocket will produce extreme “lint.” A crayon or lipstick in a wash load may cause

stains that cannot be removed. Roll down cuffs and shake out grass, sand, and gravel.

Mend Rips and Tears

Little holes can become bigger in the washer. Mend holes and tears before placing garments in the washer.

Close Zipper and Fasten Hooks

These can catch on garments in a wash load and tear them. Tie belts and sashes so they won’t wind around clothes.

Check for Colorfastness

Squeeze a portion of garment in warm or hot sudsy water. If the color bleeds or runs, wash the item separately in cold water.

2. Sort by fabric and construction.

COTTONS AND

LINENS

SYNTHETICS, BLENDS

& POLY KNITS

Figure 2

PERMANENT

3. Sort by care label.

COLD

HOT

PRESS

DELICATES

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WARM

Sort

Proper sorting is easy if you follow a few guidelines:

1. Sort by color.

Figure 1

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Figure 3

4. Sort by type and amount of soil.

Children’s play clothes, as well as work clothes, will need extra treatment. Lightly soiled clothes can become dingy if washed with heavily soiled items.

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Use and Care

Pretreat

Pretreat shirt collars and cuffs with a pre-wash product or liquid detergent when placing them in the washer. Before washing, treat special stains with bar soap, liquid detergent or a paste of water and granular detergent. Use a pretreat soil and stain remover.

Load Articles

Load items by the amount of space they take up, not by their weight. Mix large and small items in a load to get the best washing results.

Load items loosely into the wash drum. The bulk of the clothes rather than the weight will determine load size.

Load Sizes

Load sizes vary. Small and large items should be washed together to create a balanced load. If washing a large item, two bath towels should be added to even the load. Smaller loads can create an unbalanced condition and cause premature wear on the washer. Do not hesitate to fill the entire inner drum of the washer. The load will compress a great deal when wet. This allows room for proper tumbling.

Water

Water Level

The washer will automatically adjust the water level to the type and size of the load during any fill.

Water Hardness

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Figure 4

NOTE: One grain per U.S. gallon equals 17.1 parts per million (P.P.M.).

Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (G.P.G.) or parts per million (P.P.M.). To learn your water hardness, call your Water Department or State Extension Service. Hard water will not remove soil as well as soft water and can result in gray, dingy laundry. To get clothes clean in hard water, use more detergent but avoid oversudsing. Do not use soap.

Hard Water May Be Softened By:

1. A mechanical water softener installed in your home.

2. The use of a packaged water conditioner.

Soft Water

Water should be soft enough to allow soaps and detergents to remove soil effectively. Clothes will be whiter and brighter when washed and rinsed in soft water.

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Use and Care

Iron

If iron is present in the water, the clothes may become an all-over yellow or they may be stained with brown or orange spots or streaks. Iron is not always visible in the water.

Solutions to Iron Problems

The installation of a water softener will remove small amounts of iron from the water supply. The installation of an iron filter may be necessary for more severe cases. If the iron comes from the pipes, it may be sufficient just to let the water run into the empty washer for about one minute. This may help to clear the pipes. Spin this water out of the wash drum before starting the wash.

If iron comes from the water heater, drain the heater occasionally to remove the rust.

Iron with Chlorine Bleach

The use of chlorine bleach with water that contains iron will make the rust discoloration worse. Use an “all fabric” bleach.

Energy

You can save energy when washing by following a few guidelines:

1. Heating water accounts for the greatest energy expense when washing. Save on heating water by using cold rinses.

2. Wash full loads, but do not overload.

3. Soak heavily soiled items to reduce wash times.

4. Select a shorter wash time for lightly soiled items.

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Use and Care

Washing Special Items

NOTE: Always follow manufacturer’s care label instructions.

Bedding ● Warm wash and warm rinse.

● PERMANENT PRESS cycle.

● Pretreat heavily soiled areas before washing.

● When washing an electric blanket, protect the plug by stitching the edge of the

blanket over the plug. Only dry in the dryer if manufacturer says it can be done.

Diapers

Draperies, Curtains, Slip Covers

Pillows (Feather and Down)

Rugs

Slips and Nightgowns

● Rinse out diapers immediately in cold water and soak in a diaper pail with a small

amount of detergent or enzyme presoak.

● Limit wash load to two dozen cloth baby diapers.

● Recommend an all-purpose, low-sudsing detergent.

● Shake to remove dust. Remove hooks and close zippers.

● Do not wash sun-damaged draperies and curtains. They will not withstand washing.

● Use warm water.

● Wash curtains frequently. They can be weakened from soil, fumes, dust and the sun.

● Fiberglass curtains need gentle care. Read care label to see if washable. Some

fiberglass curtains should be hand washed.

● Do not wash pillows unless they can be dried in the dryer. They may mildew if not

dried completely.

● Use warm wash and low-sudsing detergent.

● Shake before washing. Do not use hot water on rubber-backed rugs.

● Wash two or three rugs to balance the washer.

● Wash often using all-purpose detergent, warm or hot water and cold rinse on the

PERMANENT PRESS cycle.

● To keep nylons and polyesters white, wash only with whites and use chlorine bleach

occasionally.

● Use fabric softener to remove static electricity.

Common Washer Sounds

Sounds Cause

Accelerating This sound is heard during the spin portion of every cycle.

Tapping These sharp sounds may come from metal fasteners, zippers, belt buckles or coins hitting

the wash drum or door glass.

Thumping Washer may be out of balance. Washer is designed to balance the load. If the washer is

severely unbalanced, pull timer knob out to stop washer and redistribute the load.

Rumbling Washer may not be level. Stop washer and adjust leveling legs. Refer to INSTALLATION

INSTRUCTIONS for details.

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Use and Care

Washing Concerns

on them, use proper washing practices at all times. If you notice that your clothes are not as bright as they

To keep clothes looking white or bright and to prevent a gradual build-up of soil or water hardness minerals

Problem Cause Solution

Gray or Dingy Clothes

Yellowed Clothes Unremoved Soil Skin soil is hard to remove. Check hem edge of sheets and

Too Little or Too Much Detergent Add recommended amount of low-sudsing detergent to

Improper Sorting Wash whites separately. Separate light from heavily soiled

Water Not Hot Enough White clothes will stay whiter with hot wash water. Increase

Clothes Stained from Iron in the Water

should be, take corrective measures immediately.

dispenser drawer before loading clothes. Mild detergents are not suitable for average soil.

items. Clothes can pick up soil from dirty wash water.

temperature.

pillowcases, bottom end of t-shirts, etc. If this portion is white and center is yellow, the fabric contains unremoved soil. Use sufficient detergent and a hot wash. Chlorine bleach or powdered bleach may be needed.

To test for an iron stain, use a rust remover that is recommended for use with washing machines on a portion of the garment. Follow bottle directions for larger items.

Older Clothes Some white fabrics turn yellow with age and cannot be

whitened.

Clothes Tearing or Damaged

Improper Use of Chlorine No correction for bleach damaged clothes. Always keep level

at or below maximum in bleach dispenser compartment.

Insufficient Precare Fasten all hooks and zippers. Mend tears. Remove objects

from pockets.

Excessive Lint Improper Sorting Fabrics which shed lint should not be washed with fabrics

that receive lint.

Insufficient Detergent Use enough detergent so lint remains suspended in water and

flushed out. Do not oversuds the water.

Mixing Fabric Types Knits and permanent press attract lint. Wash these only with

similar items. Use fabric softener in dispenser drawer.

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Use and Care

Laundry Tips

Laundry Aids Use Comments

Pretreat Products

Detergents/Soaps

Bleaches

Fabric Softeners

● Use a pretreating agent and soak overnight to remove

stains and soils.

● Always follow manufacturer’s instructions with any

pretreatment product.

● Use low-sudsing detergent (recommended for high

efficiency or front loading washers) in your washer.

● When using detergents made for topload washers, use

1/3 of the recommended amount to prevent oversudsing. Using these detergents may decrease cleaning performance.

● Use to remove certain stains, disinfect, and keep

clothes white.

● Do not use powdered bleach in the bleach dispenser

compartments. Powdered bleach can be used in the detergent compartment only.

● Use liquid bleach in the proper dispenser compartment

only. Do not add bleach to the wash load.

● Follow directions on care label of garment.

● Do not use bleach as a substitute for detergent.

● Use to soften clothes and remove static electricity

from permanent press knits and other fabrics of manufactured fibers.

● Add to the fabric softener dispenser compartment.

Follow bottle directions carefully.

● Do not use a pretreating agent with

chlorine bleach.

● Do not use pretreaters around the

washer or dryer control panel. They may harm the finish or panel markings.

● Soap and powdered detergents will

not give good washing results in hard water. Soap in hard water will form sticky deposits.

● We do not recommend the use of

powdered soap when washing in cold water.

● Always measure the bleach. Never

exceed maximum level on bleach dispenser.

● Never use chlorine bleach and

ammonia in the same wash cycle.

● Add powdered bleach along with

the detergent.

● Do not add fabric softener directly

to load. Use fabric softener dispenser.

● Do not mix with detergent or

bleach.

● Do not fill past maximum level on

dispenser compartment.

Water Conditioners

Non-precipitating Type

Precipitating Type

● These products soften water by tying up the hardness

minerals and are recommended if using soap when water is over three grains hard.

● These products settle out hardness minerals by

● Use water conditioner when

converting them into particles that will not dissolve in the water.

necessary.

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